Scripture: Acts 9:1-9

C.I.: The Attitude of a Spiritual Mind

So far…(review). – Today Paul begins helping the believers in Philippi gain the proper perspective on life.
Their problems arise from how they “look at things.” – Spiritual Mind = Seeing earth from heaven's perspective!

•  Paul's Life Reveals “The Spiritual Mind,” (chapter 3)

•  Paul's Past : “ The Accountant ,” (verses 1-11)

•  Paul had Believed in a “Works-Based Righteousness,” (vs. 1-6)

•  The “Religious” (e.g. Paul's past) believed - a person was made righteous by what they did.

•  “Beware of the dogs, beware of the evil workers, beware of the false circumcision;- for we are the true circumcision, who worship in the Spirit of God & the glory of Christ Jesus – & put no confid…

•  They considered Xns “dogs” (unclean) – But from heaven's perspective – unforgiven are unclean!

•  Evil workers (trusts in their works) – But from heaven's perspective – God & not works – makes us righteous, ( Rom. 4:5 ), “The one who does not work, but believes in Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is reckoned to him as righteousness.”

•  False Circum. = They trusted in the external – ( Rom. 2:28-29; Col. 2:11 ), “Circum. is of the heart by Spirit…” “You were circumcised w/a circumcision made without hands… the circum. of Christ”

•  “If anyone has a mind to put confidence in the flesh, I far more: circumcised…nation, tribe…, Hebrew, Law…, zeal…, righteousness….” ( vs. 4-6 ). – Paul's pedigree as a Jew is undeniable & well known!

•  ( Gal. 1:14 ), “I was advancing in Judaism beyond many of my contemporaries among my country-men, being more extremely zealous for my ancestral traditions.” – Jewish Valedictorian!!!

•  Paul is not ignorant of the strong pull that “religion” has on people. Even today many trust in “works”: non-Xns “good deeds,” - Believers have same problem (prayers, preaching, giving...)!

•  Three Benefits of a “Faith-Based Righteousness,” (vs. 7-11) Paul as accountant. Gains vs. losses…

•  Knowledge of Christ: not just facts but relationship! – Begins with living our faith (not just acting)!

•  “But whatever things were gain to me, those I have counted as loss for the sake of Christ. – Indeed, I have counted all things as loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus....” ( v. 7-8 )

•  The Righteousness of Christ:

•  “I may be found in Him, not having a R. of my own derived from law, but that which is thru faith in Christ, the R. of God which comes on the basis of faith,” v. 9 .

•  We either trust in self or in Jesus! – ( Rom. 10:2-3 ), “My prayer to God for the Jews is for their salvation… – For they have a zeal…For not knowing about God's righteousness & seeking to establish their own, they did not subject themselves to the righteousness of God.”

•  Fellowship of Christ: (Fellowship = to share, have in common.)

•  “… the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death; in order that I may attain to the resurrection of the dead,” vs. 10-11 . – The Xn life can be difficult – but in the end it is worth it!

•  Thus, looking at his past from heaven's perspective – Paul has nothing about which to brag!!!

•  Paul's Present : “ The Athlete ,” (verses 12-17)

•  The gold medal of “Christian Maturity” is the only one worth striving to attain, (vs. 12-14)

•  “Not that I have already attained it, or have already become perfect, but I press on in order that I may lay hold of that… - Brethren, I do not regard myself as already having laid hold of it, but one thing I do:

•  “Perfect/it” = maturity, completeness – i.e., having a “spiritual mind”!!!

•  “But ONE THING I do” : One thing is important in life:

•  “One thing you lack …,” ( Mk. 10:21 ) – the rich ruler's relationship with God.

•  “One thing is necessary…,” ( Lk. 10:42 ) – Martha's busy serving others but her rel. w/Jesus???

•  “One thing I know…,” ( Jn. 9:25 ) – the man born blind that Jesus heale d!

•  “There's just one thing…,” Curly Washburn in “City Slickers” - Even he knew this!!!

•  “…forgetting… reaching forward… I press on towards the goal of the upward call of God in Christ J.”

•  Running the Xn race is hard. – Training is constant. – Yet it's what we're called to do ( Heb. 12:2 )

•  God calls for us to have the attitude of Olympians – as we strive for spiritual maturity.

•  “…let us keep living by that same standard to which we have attained,” ( vs. 15-16 ).

•  World class believers must continue to keep living by God's rules – lest their forfeit their prize!

•  ( I Cor. 9:25 ), “Everyone who competes in the games exercises self-control in all things.- They do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable.

•  ( II Tim. 2:5 ), “If anyone competes as an athlete, he does not win the prize unless he competes….”

•  Marian Jones (2000 Games in Sydney, 3 gold, 2 bronze) – had to return her medals and will begin serving a 6 month sentence. – All because she forgot that – playing by the rules is what separates the true winners/losers!

•  Paul's Future: “ The Alien ,” (verses 18-21)

•  Is It Possible there are Illegal Aliens in the Kingdom of God? (vs. 18-21)

•  “Brethren, join in following my example, and observe those who walk according to the pattern you have in us. – For many walk, of whom I tell you and now tell you even weeping, that they are enemies of the cross of Christ, whose end is destruction, whose god is their appetites, whose glory is in their shame, who set their minds on earthly things,” ( vs. 17-19 ).

•  Paul weeps because professed Xns are living – with “…their minds set on earthly things”!!!

•  Instead of living for Jesus (because of His cross) – they live for what pleases self & their own glory.

•  How many times do we make our decisions – on the basis of “What others might think”?!!!

•  “For our citizenship… who will transform the body of our humble state into conformity with the body of His glory, by the exertion of the power He has even to subject all things to Himself,” ( vs. 20-21 ).

•  While many today live in the past – others only for the moment – Xns live looking to future!

•  Consequently our activities, words, thoughts/dreams – all look towards the 2 nd Coming!

•  Christians – I Jn. 2:2 , “Beloved…,” / Guests - II Pt. 3:10-11 , “The day of the Lord will come…!”

•  So… - Xns: Gain a spiritual attitude and… - Guests: Begin today… - Acts 22:16; Mk. 16:16!